Abstract: An optical communication system with a hierarchical branch configuration. The system includes first and second cable landing stations coupled to a trunk path in an optical cable. At least one hub-node is coupled to the trunk path through an associated hub-node branching unit. In an embodiment, mid-nodes are coupled the hub-nodes through associated mid-node branching units and mid-node paths in the optical cable. Mid-node signals may be communicated between the mid-nodes and the hub-nodes without being provided on the trunk path. Sub-nodes are coupled to at least one of the mid-nodes through associated sub-node branching units and sub-node paths in the optical cable. Sub-node signals may also be communicated between the sub-nodes and the mid-nodes without being provided on the trunk path or the mid-node path.

Abstract: An optical communication system with a hierarchical branch configuration. The system includes first and second cable landing stations coupled to a trunk path in an optical cable. At least one hub-node is coupled to the trunk path through an associated hub-node branching unit. In an embodiment, mid-nodes are coupled the hub-nodes through associated mid-node branching units and mid-node paths in the optical cable. Mid-node signals may be communicated between the mid-nodes and the hub-nodes without being provided on the trunk path. Sub-nodes are coupled to at least one of the mid-nodes through associated sub-node branching units and sub-node paths in the optical cable. Sub-node signals may also be communicated between the sub-nodes and the mid-nodes without being provided on the trunk path or the mid-node path.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which an optical network may include an optical-electrical converter module within an OEO (Optical Electrical Optical) reach extension system (OEO RE system), the OEO RE system having an OEO port and including a downstream frame regeneration block; and a downstream control data extraction block including a GPON operating parameter extraction module (GOPEM), wherein the GOPEM is operable to extract at least one OEO-port operating parameter from data frames arriving at the GOPEM module.